New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a bill into law banning public colleges and universities across the state from securing deals with sports betting brands.
Assembly Bill 4113 was signed by Murphy on Tuesday after first being introduced by Assemblywoman Linda Carter and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly last April. It was carried over into the current year’s session.
The legislation is the same as Senate Bill 2155, which was introduced in January 2024 by Sen. Joseph Cryan. SB 2155 was passed by the Senate Higher Education Committee with amendments in May before being substituted by A4113 last month.
The bill was filed despite there being no active partnerships between New Jersey public educational institutions and gambling brands.
Still, Murphy’s approval of A4113 now writes a formal ban into law. Colleges and universities may not sign a sports wagering partnership that provides a gambling brand or operator with “access to advertise in the institution’s stadiums and other facilities.”
The measure includes digital and broadcast sports content, and it also applies to athletic departments and booster clubs.
It does not prevent foundations tied to public institutions from securing a sports wagering deal as long as there is no direct marketing towards college students. Neither does it stop them from collaborating with a gambling licensee or operator for academic purposes or experiential learning opportunities for actively enrolled students at state schools.
The public institutions that are required to adhere to the new law include Rutgers, Kean University, Montclair State, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rowan.
“Young people are especially vulnerable to compulsive gambling and can have a difficult time breaking the habit once it becomes ingrained,” said Cryan of the ban. “This will help protect them from the negative influences of advertisements that promote the practice. Our college campuses should be places for learning, not underage gambling.”
Potential college player props ban
Lawmakers in New Jersey are also making a legislative effort to ban college player props.
Sen. Kristin Corrado and Cryan introduced Senate Bill 3080 in April as a measure prohibiting operators from offering college player props to players in New Jersey. The lawmakers introduced the bill to protect student-athletes from gambling-related abuse.
Last month, the State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee approved the bill by a 5-0 vote, placing the measure on the Senate floor. It is yet to be read in the full chamber.
Recent changes in New Jersey
One more notable change that did get through was a change to the state’s online gambling tax rate.
Last month, Murphy and the state’s legislature reached a deal to begin levying a 19.75% tax rate on gross gaming revenue for online casino and sports betting operators. In a budget plan, Murphy originally proposed a 25% tax rate before a compromise was reached with fellow lawmakers after the rate received backlash from operators and trade associations.
New Jersey previously taxed sports wagering at 13% while online casinos paid 15%.
